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00:00 For the nearly 40% of the UK population who suffer from hay fever,
00:05 June and the beginning of July is the peak time for their troublesome symptoms.
00:10 Most of the pollen in the UK atmosphere actually comes from grass or hay which pollinates in June.
00:18 And this is on top of the pollen which has already been released from weeds and trees.
00:25 There are concerns that with changes in the climate, plants are going to pollinate earlier and for longer,
00:33 so that there will be more pollen in the atmosphere than in previous years.
00:37 Most health sites advise staying at home with the windows and doors closed,
00:43 but this is not very practical advice for most people.
00:46 The main focus of medical treatments for hay fever is actually to take an antihistamine,
00:51 which do help to reduce the runny nose and the blocked nose.
00:55 But they don't address the underlying root cause of why people are allergic to pollen.
01:01 And they do have side effects.
01:03 Even the modern non-sedatory forms can cause some sleepiness, a dry mouth,
01:09 and there are concerns for long-term health.
01:12 Having poor gut health does increase the probability of having more severe hay fever symptoms.
01:20 Having poor gut health correlates with a less efficient immune system.
01:25 So you're more likely to catch an infection, but at the same time,
01:29 you're more likely to overreact to antigens in our environment, including pollen.
01:36 People with poor gut health also have lower levels of vitamin D,
01:41 which is also being linked to worse hay fever symptoms.
01:45 And they have higher levels of inflammation.
01:48 So the first important strategy is to try to improve and look after our gut health
01:53 by eating less processed sugar, exercising more, eating more bacteria-rich foods,
02:01 such as kefir, kimchi, and eating more prebiotic foods, such as mushrooms, artichokes, etc.
02:09 Many people in the UK may find this diet difficult to sustain.
02:14 In that case, the use of a probiotic supplement may have a role.
02:20 There are a number of studies which show that people who take probiotics
02:25 for 10 to 12 weeks over the summer will have reduced hay fever symptoms.
02:31 If considering taking a probiotic, however, make sure they contain mainly lactobacillus
02:36 and non-histamine secreting, such as in Your Gut Plus,
02:41 which also has a built-in prebiotic and vitamin D.
02:45 Further studies are emerging which show that people who have a high intake
02:51 of phytochemical-rich foods have lower hay fever symptoms.
02:56 Now, phytochemicals are found naturally in plants, which give them their colour,
03:00 their taste and their smell, and they have numerous health benefits,
03:04 including reducing inflammation and improving the immunity.
03:09 On top of a healthy diet, there have been some studies which show that boosting
03:14 the intake of phytochemicals with a capsule can further reduce hay fever symptoms.
03:23 If you're thinking of boosting your levels of phytochemicals with a capsule,
03:27 consider one such as Your Phyto, which is being used in a national study
03:32 because you have the reassurance it's shown some degree of effectiveness
03:36 and has a high safety profile.
03:39 One practical strategy to reduce the amount of pollen in your nasal cavity
03:45 is using a nasal douche.
03:47 Rinsing the nasal cavities two or three times a day not only reduces the amount of pollen,
03:56 it actually removes some of the excess mucus and clears the airways.
04:01 Several studies have shown it significantly reduces hay fever symptoms.
04:08 It's not the most glamorous of habits, but I've tried this myself and it certainly does help.
04:14 There are a number of apparatuses available commercially,
04:19 but the one featured in the video called Rhin-E stands out as it doesn't require batteries or refills.
04:26 And speaking from experience, it has just the right amount of saline and power to wash out the nose.
04:34 With good equipment and practice, nasal douching is actually quite straightforward.
04:40 However, when you first start, it may be useful to get help from a friend who's done it before.
04:46 (upbeat music)
04:49 you